Special bus routes eyed to ease LRT 2 congestion
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has begun studying special bus routes between Antipolo City and Manila to provide commuters with an alternative when the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT 2) is congested or its train operations are disrupted.
The proposed routes would run between Antipolo and Recto Avenue, with designated bus pickup and drop-off points near LRT 2 stations similar to the Edsa Busway, the LTFRB said in a statement on Monday.
According to LTFRB Chair Greg Pua Jr., the study follows reports of long queues and overcrowding at LRT 2 stations, particularly during morning and afternoon rush hours, when congestion can spill from station platforms into lower levels and nearby streets.
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The regulator said it had begun coordinating with the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), which owns and operates the LRT 2, to determine how the proposed bus services could provide commuters with a faster, more comfortable and reliable alternative.
The agency will also coordinate with the local governments of Antipolo, Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila, cities traversed by the LRT 2 line.
New routes
“Our goal is to come up with new routes that will serve as alternative modes of transportation for the passengers,” Pua said, referring to students and workers eager to reach their destination on time in the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The nearly 28-year-old LRT 2 is the youngest of the three rapid transit lines built in Metro Manila. It became the first line to be extended outside Metro Manila after its station in Antipolo in Rizal province opened in 2021.
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In 2025, it ferried 58.75 million passengers, or an average daily ridership of more than 165,000. On Aug. 25, the LRT 2 recorded its record daily ridership of 250,758, the highest in nine years, despite operating in a limited capacity.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez earlier instructed LTFRB to explore special bus routes modeled after the Edsa Busway, with designated pick-up and drop-off sites near LRT 2 stations. /cb
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